The Golden State Warriors’ season will ultimately be decided in Game Seven on the road in Sacramento this Sunday. The outcome of this must-win game against the Kings will eventually determine the fate of the season, and the further direction of the dynasty.  

The Warriors must play their best and most complete game of the season to move on to the second round of the playoffs. There are many keys to winning a game seven, but three keys stand out above the rest to be successful on Sunday. 

The first key is that they must have an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio. Looking back at Game Five of the series, where they won a close game in Sacramento with a score of 123-116, they had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 33 to 14.  

The Dubs are most effective on offense when they move the ball around, create good shots, and when they do not turn the ball over an excessive number of times during the game, keeping it ideally under 15 total.

When they are careless, sloppy, and turn the ball over consistently, especially with live ball  turnovers, they give opposing teams uncontested scoring opportunities in transition. The Kings are a team that thrives off running and scoring off their opponent's turnovers, and it will be especially important for the Warriors to mitigate their ability to do that.

Along with keeping a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, they need to keep the glass clean and team rebound.  

In all three losses to Sacramento in the series, Golden State has been outrebounded 144 to 125, for a combined margin of nineteen rebounds.  

“The Kings were the aggressor from the start, putting pressure on us defensively, and we didn’t execute early on in the game,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated in his game six post-game  press conference.  

They must prioritize team rebounding in Game Seven, even when the Kings go with the small  lineup, with Keegan Murray playing the small ball center and Sabonis off the floor.  

Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson must focus on rebounding, especially  securing long rebounds, and keep the Kings off the glass. By doing so, it will  result in fewer second-chance points, something else Sacramento has thrived off of in this series.

The most critical aspect of Game Seven is Golden State’s Championship Core must produce and lead the  way to victory. After a tough double-digit loss in a close-out game six at home, the team is still confident in their ability to play their best basketball in a hostile road environment. 

“I still have absolute belief in this team that we can go get it done on the road. It will be a tall task, we are up for it, and I know we will respond,” Klay Thompson stated during his post-game press conference after Game Six.  

In a game that could ultimately decide the destiny of the Dubs dynasty, the Warriors need their  championship core of Steph, Klay, Draymond, Wiggins, and Kevon Looney to be the example for the rest of their team and flaunt their championship pedigree in a win or go home game.

(Photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)